haze

UK: /ˈheɪz/ US: /heɪz/ ,(hāz)

Inflections of 'haze' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

hazes

v 3rd person singular

hazing

v pres p

hazed

v past

hazed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

haze¹ /heɪz/   n., v., hazed, haz•ing. 
n. 

1. Meteorology a mass or collection in the atmosphere of very fine, widely spread solid or liquid particles that give the air a milky white appearance: [countable; usually singular]
   a haze of smoke from his pipe.
   [uncountable] The mountain was barely visible through the haze.
2. a confused state of mind;
   daze:
   [countable* singular] After the accident the victims were still in a haze.

v. [no object]

3. to become hazy:
   The sky hazed over.

haze² /heɪz/   v. [~ + object] , hazed, haz•ing. 

1. to force to perform pointless or humiliating tasks:
   college seniors hazing freshmen.

haz•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

haze¹  (hāz), n., v., hazed, haz•ing. n. 

1. Meteorology an aggregation in the atmosphere of very fine, widely dispersed, solid or liquid particles, or both, giving the air an opalescent appearance that subdues colors.
2. vagueness or obscurity, as of the mind or perception;
   confused or vague thoughts, feelings, etc.:
   The victims were still in a haze and couldn't describe the accident.

v.t., v.i. 

3. to make or become hazy.

• 1700–10; perh. noun, nominal use of Middle English *hase; Old English hasu, variant of haswa ashen, dusky. See hazy, hare

haze′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 2. See cloud. 

haze²  (hāz), v.t., hazed, haz•ing. 

1. to subject (freshmen, newcomers, etc.) to abusive or humiliating tricks and ridicule.
2. [Chiefly Naut.] to harass with unnecessary or disagreeable tasks.

• Middle French haser to irritate, annoy
• 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

haze / heɪz/ noun

1. reduced visibility in the air as a result of condensed water vapour, dust, etc, in the atmosphere
2. obscurity of perception, feeling, etc

verb

1. when intr, often followed by over: to make or become hazy

Etymology: 18th Century: back formation from hazy

haze / heɪz/ verb (transitive)

1. to subject (fellow students) to ridicule or abuse
2. to harass with humiliating tasks

Etymology: 17th Century: of uncertain origin